71-Year-Old Man Charged In Road Rage Incident, Shooting

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ISANTI, Minn. (WCCO) – A 71-year-old man has been charged in a road rage incident between two motorists, which led to a shooting in the Isanti Police Department parking lot on Saturday afternoon.

Joseph Duane Kadlec, of Cambridge, was charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and first-degree manslaughter.

According to the complaint, officers were in the office of the Isanti Police Department when they heard a call come in from dispatch regarding a fight outside the building, in the parking lot.

One officer saw two motorcycles parked in the parking lot and a silver car, parked at an angle near a handicapped parking space. As police left the building, they heard a gunshot coming from the parking lot.

Police say one man appeared to have been shot in the chin. The man was later identified as Kyle William Ronning. Police say he had a lot of blood in his mouth, shattered teeth and a lot of damaged tissue.

Police spoke with Kadlec, who said there was a road rage incident on Highway 65. The officer informed Kadlec that he shot a man in the face and noticed Kadlec had a black handgun sitting on the seat.

Ronning was conscious and was flown to Hennepin County Medical Center for treatment. Police say the bullet seemed to be protruding from his right ear.

Witnesses told police Kadlec was driving a car southbound on Highway 65 when two motorcycles, driven by Ronning and another driver, went flying by him at a high rate of speed. A witness said the motorcycles kept trying to pass Kadlec, but each time, Kadlec would speed up and prevent them from passign. They also said Kadlec appeared to intentionally swerve toward the motorcycles when they tried to pass him. At least one of the motorcyclists then sped up and kicked the side of Kadlec’s car.

The witnesses said the motorcycles and car then turned off on County Road 5. Another witness said they saw the motorcycles and the car pull into the parking lot and begin arguing. He said he went back to work but then heard a shot.

Kadlec was placed under arrest and transported to Isanti County Jail.

Records show Kadlec was the subject of five prior road rage incidents stemming from Sept. 6, 2008 to July 2, 2010.